Shloka 70

Adhyaya 8: Yogasthanas, Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama-Siddhi, and Shiva-Dhyana leading to Samadhi

Devanagari script

विस्वरो विस्वरीभावो द्वंद्वानां मुनिसत्तमाः अग्रजः सर्वतत्त्वानां महान्यः परिमाणतः

Transliteration

visvaro visvarībhāvo dvaṃdvānāṃ munisattamāḥ agrajaḥ sarvatattvānāṃ mahānyaḥ parimāṇataḥ

Translation

O best of sages, He is the Lord of the universe and the very becoming of the universe; transcending all pairs of opposites, He is the First-born before all tattvas, and though immeasurable, He is called the Great One (Mahān), the measure underlying all measures.

Word by Word

• viśvaraḥ: Lord of the universe

• viśvarī-bhāvaḥ: the state of becoming the universe / cosmic manifestation

• dvandvānām: of the dualities (pairs of opposites)

• munisattamāḥ: O best among sages

• agrajaḥ: the first-born / prior to all

• sarva-tattvānām: of all principles (tattvas)

• mahān: the Great One (Mahān, cosmic principle / epithet of Shiva)

• yaḥ: who

• parimāṇataḥ: with respect to measure / as the ground of all measurement

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames the Linga as the sign of Pati—Shiva who both pervades and manifests the universe—so worship is not merely symbolic but a direct approach to the source of all tattvas.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva is presented as prior to all tattvas (agrajaḥ), beyond dualities (dvandva-atīta), yet also the cosmic becoming (viśvarībhāvaḥ)—the transcendent-immanent Lord.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key yogic takeaway is dvandva-jaya (mastery over opposites) central to Pashupata-oriented discipline: steadiness of awareness in Shiva as Pati, rather than fluctuation between pleasure–pain, gain–loss, honor–dishonor.